Hokitika Gorge |

On our recent holiday we stayed at Hokitika, a great spot on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. We hadn’t spent much time around this area and one of the places we really wanted to visit was the beautiful Hokitika Gorge.

We weren’t disappointed!! The walk is an easy gradient and only 15 minutes each way, descending through podacarp/hardwood forest. From the car park, follow the walking track for a few minutes to a viewing platform, from here you can look down to the stunning Hokitika Gorge and out to the lush farmland of Kowhitirangi.

From the viewing platform, continue along the curving board walks through beautiful forest and bush until you reach a swing bridge. From here there are excellent views of the blue-green waters of the Hokitika River as it makes its way through the rock sided Hokitika Gorge. Cross the swing bridge, turn left and the track continues for another 200m through the bush to another viewing platform and large rocks where you get spectacular views of the gorge.

Trampers may wish to go further afield and there are three-day hikes from here to places like Grassy Flats, Cedar Flat and Mt Brown. Further up the gorge is popular for adventure kayaking.

The first lookout gives you spectacular views of the gorge and Kowhitirangi farmland (below).Hokitika Gorge’s lovely turquoise water is the result of suspended glacial till in the water.

The track then leads you to a swing bridge which crosses the Hokitika Gorge taking you over the magnificent green/blue waters of the Hokitika River.

The sign on the swing bridge says “DON”T make the swing bridge swing, some people DON’T like it”!!!! No it doesn’t really but even if it did Graham would HAVE to make it swing!!!

A large trout swimming in the sun. Looking back towards the swing bridge Looking up stream from the rocks.Such a beautiful spot!! Beautiful New Zealand native bush – so peaceful!